Forging a Sustainable Path
Berkana’s Journey and Updates
Namaste Friends,
I’ve recently been jumping through numerous hoops to remonetize Berkana. Since June, I’ve been operating without the support of new paid subscribers. While some annual subscribers remain, Stripe has prevented renewals and upgrades for both new and existing subscribers since then, resulting in a significant revenue loss for Berkana. This has caused considerable stress as I seek a sustainable path forward. The issues stem from Stripe’s limited support and the complexities of compliance for businesses and individuals in India, in line with updated RBI guidelines rolled out by mid-2024.
While my Stripe gateway is technically active, payments still face obstacles, including API integrations that require subscriber addresses and names. I find it unethical to share my readers' personal details with third-party vendors outside the Stripe-Substack network. Therefore, I’ve decided to switch to PayPal as my payment gateway.
Substack doesn’t offer PayPal as an integrated option, so I’ve created a manual process to handle and track paid subscriptions. You can now review pricing for each tier and use my PayPal link below to support my work. Upon receiving your subscription, I’ll send you a thank-you email with the details and confirmation of your subscription tier. Though it may seem cumbersome, I believe this personalized approach will build a stronger, more trusting connection between us that often gets lost in automated systems.
Managing this process feels akin to running an independent website, so please bear with me if there are any delays in response. My subscriber base may be small and global, but I deeply appreciate each one of you.
With a paid subscription, you’ll gain access to Berkana's archive, which holds three year’s worth of essays. Thank you for your patience and steadfast support. Your journey through Berkana’s trove of insights awaits.
Introductions
Long-time friends need no introduction, but since many of you are new, here’s a brief introduction to who I am, the work I do, and the framework of this newsletter.
If you're still feeling overwhelmed, here's a list to help you get started.
Also, here is my interview with Amanda Hinton, which she featured in her Cave of Heart series.
Testimonials
Here’s how some readers received the above essays
Recommendations
Here’s a list of essays I highly recommend from some of my favorite writers on Substack. I’m constantly in awe of their brilliance, making it hard to choose just one piece from each. I feel incredibly fortunate to call these remarkable people my friends. I’ve included snippets of my comments on these essays to give you a sense of why I recommend them.
UPI option for Indian Readers
Since I have a relatively smaller but constantly growing reader base from India, I am attaching my QR code for Berkana’s Indian reader base to support my work as well. I am stoked that you love my work enough to pay me for writing essays that move you.
I am so grateful to be included here and so enraged for you at the labor required for you to capitalize on your writing even a tiny bit. Substack continually positioning themselves as a bastion of free speech and independent reporting while not allowing the same access to capital gains to all publishers is WILD and so tone-deaf to the values they perpetuate. Sending you so much love as you find what is right and works best for you.
I am so grateful to be on the receiving end of your writing, and I know I am better for it. Though we don't have the means to support financially, I will continue to uplift your beautiful and important paradigms and cheer you on from the other side of the world!! Appreciate you, my fierce friend. ❤️❤️
I’m so honoured you included my testimonial. I’ve been thinking of you a lot these days. Your phantom fury piece comes up a lot for me, reminding me that even my rage that wants to burn down the world has a place where it can be held. Thank you so much for being present to your readers in such kind and wise ways. I’m looking at PayPal options now, and wishing you a sustainable path.